Rag-tying device.



F. H. COOPER.

RAG TYING DEVICE.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 4. 1915.

1,206,991. Patented Dec. 5,1916.

FREDERICK H. COOPER, OF WALKERVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

RAG-TYIN'G DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed May 4, 1916. Serial No. 95,311.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. COOPER, a subject of the King of England, residing at iValkerville, in the county of Essex and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rag-Tying Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In makingor weaving strips of fabric into carpets or rugs it is the present practice to sew the ends of the fabric together to form strings or strands that may be easily woven or braided into a carpet, rug or mat. Such practice necessitates considerable time and labor, and the primary object of my invention is to obviate the necessity of sewing together the, ends of the strips of fabric by providing a novel knot tying device which permits of the ends of rags or strips of fabric being easily and quickly joined.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rag tying device by which the overlapped ends of rags or strips of fabric may be easily and safely pierced or apertured and a knot quickly formed to join the ends of the rags or strips of fabric.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rag tying device having a foldable blade that permits of the device being readily carried and safely handled.

I attain the above and other objects by a simple, durable and inexpensive mechanical construction that will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the de vice; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the blade of the device folded; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the blade of the device, showing the overlapping ends of rags or pieces of fabric thereon; Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the threading of the blade; Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating one step in the formation of a knot and the withdrawal of the overlapped ends of the pieces of fabric from the blade; Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating further steps in the formation of the knot; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the knot, and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the knot loosened up to illustrate the interengagement of the ends of the fabric.

The knot tying device comprises a metal lic plate 1, rectangular in plan, having the longitudinal edges thereof provided with depending flanges 2. Intermediate the ends of the plate 1 is a transverse slot or opening 3 and movably mounted in the opening of said plate is the inner end of a flat blade 4. The inner end of the blade 4 has a right angular portion 5 constituting a support for said blade to maintain the same in an upright position at a right angle to the top of the plate 1. The right angular portion 5 terminates in a tongue 6 disposed at a right angle to the portion 5 and in a plane parallel with the plane of the blade 4. The inner end of the blade is movably held in the opening 3 by a flat spring or detent 7 having one end thereof spot welded or otherwise connected to the bottom side of the plate 1 contiguous to the end thereof. The free end of the spring 7 terminates below the opening 3 and is V shaped in cross section to form a seat 8 for the tongue 6 of the blade 4. The spring 8 tends to steady the blade 4 and maintain the same in an upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but said blade can be folded on to the plate 1 with the right angular portion 5 of said blade extending through the opening 3 and the tongue 6 on to the spring 7, said spring tending to hold the blade 4 fold ed against the plate. The outer or upper end of the blade 4 is provided with a double knife edge 9 and with a longitudinal slot or eye 10.

The flanges 2 of the plate 1 support said plate in a superposed position relative to a suitable support, thereby providing clearance for the spring 7 at the inner end of said blade, and with the blade in an upright position, a knot may be tied in the following manner: The ends of pieces of rags or strips of fabric 11 and 12 may be overlapped or placed in matched relation and forced down over the upper end of the blade, as shown in Fig. 4. The opposite or outer end 13 of the lowermost strip of fabric can then be threaded in the eye 10 of the blade, as shown in Fig. 5, and then the overlapped ends 11 and 12 of the strips of fabric stripped or removed from the blade, as shown in Fig. 6, causing the end 13 of the lowermost fabric to fold upon itself in passing through the registering opening 14 produced in the ends 11 and 12 by the blade 4. As the ends 11 and 12 of the strips of fabric are removed from the blade 4, the end 13 is eventually liberated from the opening 14 and may be pulled out of the eye 10 of the blade, thereby leaving a single strand through the openings 14, as shown in Fig. 7 By then pulling in opposite direction upon the ends 11 and 13 a knot is formed,

. as shown in Fig. 8. If this knot is loosened up it will be found that the ends of the strips of fabric have been joined by'one strip passing through the opening of the adjoining strip and the adjoining strip passing through the opening of the first mentioned strip, forming somewhat of a square or reef knot. A knot of thischaracter can be drawn sufficiently tight to prevent the pieces of fabric from becoming accidentally untied duringthe braiding-or weaving of a carpet, rug or mat.

One embodiment of my invention is to be illustrated, and it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to such variations and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Vhat I claim is 1. A rag tyin'g device comprising a plate, side supporting 'flanges carried thereby to elevate the plate from its support, said plate having a slotted opening therein, a slotted blade having the inner end thereof angularly bent with the bent end projecting inwardly of the plate through said opening, and a flat spring secured to the bottom side of said plate and having a V-shaped recess in the free end thereof underlying the plate opening to receivethe inner end of the blade, the inner end of the blade and the spring remaining at all times Within the lower eX- tremities of the flanges.

2. A rag tying device comprising a plate having an opening therein, means carried thereby to hold the plate elevated, a piercing blade carried by the plate and projecting through said opening at opposite sides of the plate, and a spring element carried by the bottom of the plate in engagement with one projecting end of the blade, the inner end of the blade and the spring remaining at all times within the lowerextremities of the plate elevating means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence-of two witnesses.

FREDERICK H. COOPER.

Witnesses KARL H. BUTLER, ANNA M. DORR.

Copies of this 'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

